Aggregation of traffic classes in MPLS networks

In Multi-Protocol Label Switched (MPLS) networks, the number of traffic engineered tunnels or Label Switched Paths (LSPs) setup has an impact on network state maintenance, administration and scalability. In today's MPLS standards, for the purpose of path computation and signaling, multiple traffic classes carried together of a given service of a customer are treated individually. This work looks into MPLS paths which allow for the accommodation of up to eight distinct traffic classes per LSP. A comparison is made that shows scenarios in which such traffic class aggregation or “bundling” can provide a significant reduction in the number of paths in the network.